Initiated during the 1996-97 school year, the SDHSAA Academic Achievement Team Award program is designed to recognize varsity athletic teams and fine arts groups for their academic excellence. The South Dakota High School Activities Association believes that high school students learn
in two distinct ways: inside the classroom and outside the classroom – on the stage and/or athletic field.
This academic program creates a positive environment for school teams to have its members excel in the classroom. This program is also meant to motivate students toward academic excellence and to promote academic encouragement from teammates.
Included on the list is the Sanborn Central/Woonsocket School Volleyball Team.
All varsity teams that participate in Association-sponsored activities are eligible for this recognition program. Based on a duplicated count, as reported in the 2014-15 SDHSAA Participation Survey, over 30,900 students participate in interscholastic athletics and over 26,100 more are involved in fine arts activities. The Academic Team Award program provides high school students with the opportunity to prove they can be overwhelmingly successful in both academics, as well as in athletic and fine arts activities.
All varsity athletic teams and fine arts groups that achieve a combined grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible to receive the SDHSAA Academic Achievement Team Award.